2376-S AMH BUYS TOUL 127

SHB 2376 - H AMD 870

By Representative Buys

WITHDRAWN 02/25/2016

    On page 161, line 7, increase the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2017 by $320,000

    On page 161, line 17, correct the total

    On page 162, after line 24, insert the following:

    "(6) $320,000 of the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2017 is provided solely for the department to conduct activities to reduce groundwater risks from lagoons and fields on dairy farms. These amounts may be used for the following activities:

    (a) assisting dairy farmers with deep soil sampling and record keeping;

    (b) Assessing, analyzing, and reporting on lagoon storage on dairy farms in counties in the North Puget Sound and the Yakima basin;

    (c) Working with the Washington State University Research and Extension and United States Natural Resources Conservation Service on improving effluent analysis and the development of storage assessment tools and protocols to identify dairy lagoons and effluent storage systems that are a significant risk to state groundwater resources;

    (d) Providing engineering technical assistance, via conservation districts in counties in the North Puget Sound and the Yakima basin, to dairy farmers for effluent storage lagoon engineering to meet United States Natural Resources Conservation Service standards; and

    (e) Reporting to the Legislature by July 1, 2017, in cooperation with the Department of Ecology, with recommendations for reducing groundwater risks from lagoons and fields on dairy farms, and the roe, scope, and associated costs of a state groundwater permit for dairy farmers. The recommendations in this report must be based on dairy lagoon and field assessments, and must include estimated public and private costs for reducing groundwater risks from lagoons and dairy farm fields."

EFFECT:  Provides funding for the Department of Agriculture to conduct a variety of activities related to reducing groundwater risks from lagoons and fields on dairy farms.  A report must be submitted to the Legislature by July 1, 2017.  

FISCAL IMPACT:

           Increases General Fund - State by $320,000.

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